The Guardian Angel Gazette

Transcription

1 The Guardian Angel Gazette August 2015 DPH Survey Team Praise Holy Trinity Staff! A total of five DPH surveyors spent several days in our home. They spoke to residents and families, tested meal temperatures, watched medication passes, reviewed charts and observed residents daily activities. They evaluated our facility for quality, safety, administration effectiveness, cleanliness, nursing care, activity programs, social services, protection of resident rights, and food services. During the survey and in their closing interview, the survey team were complementary and praised our facility, our staff and the satisfaction of our residents. You deserve to be very proud of the work we do and your contribution to our Mission of serving our residents with confidence, warmth, compassion and understanding. WELL DONE! THANK YOU SO MUCH! Congratulations to our Holy Trinity staff for a great survey. I appreciate the exceptional work you do every day for our residents. Kimberly Snow - Executive Director In This Issue 2015 DPH annual Survey Lazy Days of Summer Journey to Safety Excellence Pet Therapy Good Bye & Good Luck Giving Thanks Hospice News Anna Maria Music Therapy Project Cookout Time Workplace Excellence Cupcake Wars

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3 C WE WANTED TO CONGRATULATE OUR HOLY TRINITY STAFF AND THEIR PERFORMANCE AND POSITIVE OUTCOME IN ACHIEVING 90 DAYS WITH NO LOST TIME ACCIDENTS! WE SHOWED OUR APPRECIATION ON FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 WITH A MAKE YOUR OWN ICE CREAM SUNDAE!

4 Submitted by Susan Murphy Director of Activities There is no disputing the fact that pets are good for us all of us, whether we are a toddler or a great grandparent. The presence of an animal (including dogs, fish, birds, etc.) in a person s life will increase happiness, elevate mood, decrease depression and loneliness, and, overall, make the world a better place in which to dwell. On July 17, 2015 our residents enjoyed a visit from SAGE our pet therapy dog.

5 Submitted by Susan Benoit Director of Nursing We were thrilled when Dr. Nedelescu told us he was bringing in a physician full time to oversee the sub-acute residents. Dr. Thippanna you came to us and immediately fit in as a member of the Holy Trinity Team. You showed patience to the new nurses. You were always willing to teach them. We received positive feedback from the residents and their families. You helped Holy Trinity to receive national recognition for the decrease in re-hospitalizations. Your presence and work was positively noted by DPH during survey. We truly appreciate and thank you for all you have done. We will certainly miss you. We would like to give you this gift as a token of our appreciation for all you have done. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

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7 With particularly nice weather over the past several weeks, patients as well as staff have been enjoying the chance to enjoy the tranquil surroundings. The beautiful gardens are an integral part of our caring philosophy, The peace and tranquility of the natural environment complements the emotional and spiritual support we offer our patients and their loved ones. At times when one might feel overwhelmed by emotions, the Courtyard grounds offer space to take a few minutes away from a stressful situation and to find comfort in the patterns and seasons of nature.

8 Anna Maria - Nursing Home partner on music-therapy project Anna Maria College and Holy Trinity Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Worcester are sure that, together, they can make beautiful music happen for the residents of the nursing facility. Lisa Summer, professor and director of music therapy at AMC, is working with AMC alumna Danielle Pilotte and Holy Trinity to provide personalized ipods to about 30 elderly residents. The music-therapy project will focus on listening as a daily resource. Holy Trinity received a grant from UnitedHealthcare to help fund the project. College Town spoke with Ms. Summer about the specifics of the project just before she boarded a plane for Beijing to participate in an international seminar, where she will be a keynote speaker lecturing on music and memory. In music therapy, we use music for nonmusical goals, Ms. Summer said. In this instance, the hope is that giving the residents their own ipods will help improve their moods and increase cognitive skills. Everybody has his or her favorite music, such as the music from their marriage ceremony or music from college days, like the Rolling Stones, Ms. Summer said, further explaining that even if tastes have changed and one doesn t particularly like the Rolling Stones anymore, hearing them can still bring back pleasant memories. In different periods of our life, we get attached to certain pieces of music, she said. Phase one of this project will be to gather information about what should go on the ipods by interviewing residents and their families, and in the case of those who are nonverbal, perhaps playing a little bit of a song on a guitar and gauging the reaction, Ms. Summer said. Initially, there will be a pilot test with two low-functioning residents, and then the plan is to expand the program to include up to 30 residents, according to Pauline Fleury of Holy Trinity. Once the interviews are done and the appropriate music collected, it will need to be put on playlists and then training will provided to nursing home staff on how to ensure that the ipods are used for maximum benefit, Ms. Summer said. In collaboration with Ms. Fleury, it was decided to use Music and Memory, a nonprofit organization that specializes in developing and using ipods and other digital systems to help people with Alzheimer s, dementia and other cognitive and physical challenges to reconnect with the world through music-triggered memories, Ms. Summer said. Ms. Fleury said Music and Memory will provide training to help the staff best use these ipods for each patient, which fits with Holy Trinity s emphasis that the person comes first in any care plan. Ms. Summer said a good example of what this receptive music therapy can do is shown in a video clip on the Music and Memory website. In the clip, a man named Henry, who suffers from dementia and previously hardly ever talked or responded to those around him, responds dramatically to the music. Henry wakes up so present in the music and for a time after the music is over, she said. AMC music therapy majors and music therapy assistants will also assist in the program. College Town can t wait to hear what happens. By Bonnie Russell Telegram & Gazette Staff

9 What is summer without a barbecue or two? Not quite the same, that s for sure! We re pleased that we have quite a few summer picnics for our residents to enjoy, eating some fun outdoor food and mingling with everyone.

10 July 2015 Employee of the Month Bea Hanson - C.N.A. Beatrice Nah - C.N.A. Denise Surkont - L.P.N. Wendy Katz - L.P.N. Tony Muhia - L.P.N. Millie Ramos - Cook Zulma Romero - C.N.A. Selene Palomino - Business Office Jeannie Lopez - L.P.N. George Kuria - L.P.N. All Employee of the Month Honorable Mentions will be entered into a Raffle Drawing to take place Quarterly Next Drawing - November 2015

11 On July 27, 2015 we held Cupcake Wars. The competition was fierce with sixteen of our talented staff participating. The winners were: 3 rd Place Darlene Hines, RN Unit Manager, Hillside Unit, 2 nd Place - Shelley Lemieux, C.N.A., Village Unit and 1 st Place - Amy Dickerson, RN, Staff Nurse, Village Unit. The contestants baked a dozen cupcakes 1 for display and judging and the remainder were sold at a bake sale. A big THANK YOU to everyone who baked, voted and purchased cupcakes your participation made this a fun event for residents, families and staff! It is important that we hear from you! Please provide your feedback, present your ideas and submit your stories for print in future employee newsletters to Carole Richards in the Human Resources Office or to: crichards@htnr.net